Page 23 of The Sinner’s Son (Sawyer and Royce: Felonies and Fatherhood #2)

Royce cocked a brow.

“Okay, yes, I was afraid. Still am. I don’t know if I can be the person she needs me to be.”

Royce arched the brow higher.

“Christ,” Eddie muttered before scrubbing a hand over his face. “I don’t know if I can be the man I want to be.” He gestured toward Sawyer and then to Royce. “Like you guys.”

The compliment was a gruff, reluctant admission that warmed Royce’s heart. “You don’t have to be like us,” Royce said. “Just be the best version of yourself.”

Eddie ran a hand through his hair, leaving strands sticking up all over. He turned to Royce, a silent plea in his eyes. “What if I’m too old to make those kinds of changes?”

“It’s never too late as long as there’s breath in your body.” Royce reached up and tidied his dad’s hair, earning a grin.

“You’ve always been a nurturer,” Eddie said. “But not me. I’m a complete bastard.”

“No,” Royce said, managing to keep the smile off his face. This vulnerable side of Eddie was kind of adorable, and he didn’t want to discourage it. “You used to be a complete bastard who didn’t care about anyone but himself. That isn’t the man I see anymore.”

“It isn’t?”

Royce shook his head. “Pro tip number one: if you were still a complete bastard, it wouldn’t bother you what Jo thought or needed.”

Eddie cocked his head to the side as he considered the point. “Okay. I’ll give you that one. What else do you have?”

“Pro tip number two: show this vulnerable side to Jo and reap the rewards.”

Narrowing his eyes, Eddie said, “How do you figure? Jo has commented repeatedly how much she loves my strength and, um, size.”

“And you think some or all of you will shrink if you let down your defenses and be honest with her?” Royce tsked and shook his head slowly. “Do you know what people find more attractive than a big, tough man?”

Eddie looked over at the house and smiled when Sawyer hugged Jo tightly.

“That!” Royce said, pointing in their direction. “A strong, big-hearted man who isn’t afraid to show his affection.”

His father turned steely gray eyes on him. “This is brave talk from a man whose loose lips likely sent him to the doghouse this afternoon.”

“But I’m not there now, am I?” Royce waggled his brows. “Wanna know how I got back in Sawyer’s good graces?”

Eddie snorted. “Pretty sure I know how, unless you got lip fillers after you dropped me off.”

The damn ice pack trick hadn’t worked at all. Royce had nothing to blush about, but the heat still crept up his neck, even as he shrugged. “You got it wrong, Eddie. That was my reward for being on my best behavior and apologizing for screwing up.”

“This grown-up shit is a lot of work,” he groused. Eddie looked toward the house and smiled bright enough to make the sun jealous. “But it’s worth it when you find the right person.”

“That it is, Eddie. That it is.” Royce transferred the grilled chicken to a platter and tilted his head toward the house. “Ready to eat?”

“Hell yeah.”

Sawyer had put together quite a feast on short notice. Dinner looked good, smelled delicious, and it would taste amazing.

Eddie tucked right in without hesitation and devoured half his plate before he said, “This food tastes incredible.” He shook his head in dismay at Royce. “Your husband is an incredible cook. ‘Mostly tastes good,’” he grumbled before forking another bite.

Sawyer didn’t preen, but it was damn near close.

“It’s all in the quality of ingredients.

You replace the bad stuff with flavorful herbs and spices and use healthy fats and oils.

If you don’t want to cook like this for yourself every night, there are companies that deliver healthy prepared meals to your door. I put some suggestions in your binder.”

“How’d you get to be so smart about food?” Eddie asked.

“It has to be your mom’s healthy habits,” Jo said. “She’s more beautiful now than she was in her thirties.”

“No wonder she adores you,” Sawyer replied.

“I was an awkward, closeted gay kid who never fit in anywhere. I ate my emotions instead of expressing them and battled adolescent obesity as a result. My mother had friends who’d struggled with eating disorders, and she was terrified I’d develop severe problems if she remarked negatively on my weight.

I eventually got it figured out, and yes, she was very helpful during my metamorphosis. ”

Royce coughed into his hand. “His motivation might’ve had something to do with the personal trainer she hired.”

Jo giggled and swatted his arm.

“It’s true,” Sawyer agreed with a shrug. “He was a hottie.”

Eddie had a good chortle over that. “Royce was right to recommend your help. I appreciate it.”

“You’re very welcome.”

Their conversation turned to other events from the day.

Sawyer couldn’t say much about his investigation, but he shared what he could.

Royce talked a little about Cayden, Dane, and Nina’s situation, which garnered much sympathy and relief that Detective O’Connell had committed to his case.

Then the topic shifted to Holly’s big bust. The big press conference wouldn’t happen until the following morning, but Sawyer bragged about Holly’s dogged determination to get justice.

Jo set her fork down and shivered. She turned to Eddie and said, “That’s so dangerous. Aren’t you worried she’ll get hurt or killed?”

Eddie paused with his forkful of kale salad halfway to his mouth. “I worry about her every day.”

“Do you express your concern to her?” Jo pressed.

Setting his fork down, Eddie took a long drink of water.

Probably trying to figure out the right words to say.

Was he rolling Royce’s advice through his head?

Was he wondering if Jo was putting him through a test?

Royce thought he detected an ornery gleam in her eyes before she blinked it away.

Finally, Eddie set the glass back on the table and lifted the napkin from his lap to wipe his mouth.

Who the hell was this guy? He returned the linen to his lap and fixed his gaze on Jo.

“Being a cop isn’t just a job to Holly. It’s a calling, the same as it is for Royce and Sawyer.

It’s an essential part of who she is and just as important to her as being Jace’s wife and Harper’s mother.

So, yeah, she could get killed on the job, or she could die a little death every day because our fear took something meaningful from her. ”

Royce stared in complete awe. It took all he had not to stand up and clap. Who was he to think Eddie needed tips from him?

“Wow.” Jo fiddled with the neckline of her dress and beamed at Eddie. “That’s so insightful of you. And progressive.”

“Isn’t it?” Royce asked, suspicion creeping into his voice now that the shock had worn off.

Eddie reached over and took her hand. “I’d love to take credit for my remark, but those are the words Holly hurled at me after I’d made a misogynistic suggestion about her getting a safer job when she announced her pregnancy.”

Jo threw her head back and laughed, pressing her free hand to her chest.

“I knew those words sounded familiar,” Sawyer said. “I was trying to remember what movie they came from.”

Eddie lifted Jo’s hand to his mouth and kissed it. “But I really listened to what she said and realized I was wrong. I sincerely mean those words now.”

“Oh, Eddie,” Jo said. “I love you like crazy.”

He leaned forward and kissed her. “I love you too.”

Royce mouthed across the table to Sawyer, “What is happening?”

His husband waggled his brows and formed a circle with his index finger and thumb on one hand. Royce kicked him under the table before he could penetrate the circle with his other index finger. “Who’s ready for dessert?” Sawyer asked.

Eddie and Jo jerked apart as if they’d forgotten they weren’t alone.

Jo settled back in her seat as a pretty blush bloomed across her cheeks. “Forgot myself there for a second.”

“It’s that Locke charm,” Sawyer said.

“I can still eat dessert?” Eddie looked and sounded a little dazed. Was it from the kiss or from realizing that he could still have sweets?

“The trick to sustaining your new lifestyle is to take the things you love and make them healthier,” Sawyer said. “I whipped up chocolate mousse to serve with fresh berries.”

“I’m game,” Eddie said.

Jo pushed back from the table. “Let me help.”

Once alone, Eddie leaned toward Royce. “What other pointers do you have?”

Royce reached over and patted his shoulder. “I don’t think you need my help. You’ve got this.”

“Oh!” Jo suddenly cried out from the kitchen.

Royce and Eddie leaped to their feet, both of them looking for a threat.

“Like father, like son,” Sawyer said.

Jo pointed to the sonogram hanging on the refrigerator. “Is this what I think it is?”

Sawyer smiled at her. “We’re having a—”

Jo’s delighted squeal drowned out the rest of Sawyer’s words. “Oh my god! This calls for a hug!” She squeezed Sawyer first since he was closest, and then she ran to Royce. “When?” Before he could answer, Jo turned to Eddie. “Did you know about this?”

Eddie, fresh off a major victory, looked like a deer caught in the headlights, so Royce took pity on him.

“I just told him this morning, but I swore him to secrecy for a little while longer.”

Sawyer set two bowls of mousse and berries on the table. “We planned to make an official announcement at my parents’ Labor Day party.”

“Oh.” Jo covered her mouth for a few seconds before lowering her hand. “Evangeline doesn’t know?”

“Not yet, but I might have to change that. I can’t risk her finding out from anyone else.” Sawyer returned to the kitchen island to grab the remaining dessert bowls.

“We won’t say a word.” Jo turned to Eddie. “Will we?”

“Nope. I managed to keep it from you this afternoon.” He lowered his voice and added, “But we were pretty busy.”

Royce grimaced but kept his mouth shut.

Jo blushed profusely and swatted his arm. “Guess we’ll need to keep ourselves occupied until the Labor Day party.”